Fastener driving tool

ABSTRACT

A powder-actuated fastening tool having a powder charge receiving member mounted in a housing for movement between a loading position wherein a bore in the powder charge receiving member is in communication with a loading port in the housing and a firing position wherein the bore is in communication with a barrel member having a piston therein, and a firing pin mounted in the housing on the opposite side of said powder charge receiving member from said barrel and being in alignment with the bore when the powder charge receiving member is in the firing position.

United States Patent Nov. 19, 1969 Nov. 16, 1971 [22] Filed [45] Patented [54] FASTENER DRIVING TOOL 3,172,119 3/l965 Siddons 227/8 FOREIGN PATENTS 907,8l 3/l946 France 227/10 Primary ExaminerGranville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorneys-Donald R. Motsko, H. Samuel Kieser and William W. Jones ABSTRACT: A powder-actuated fastening tool having a powder charge receiving member mounted in a housing for movement between a loading position wherein a bore in the powder charge receiving member is in communication with a loading port in the housing and a firing position wherein the bore is in communication with a barrel member having a piston therein, and a firing pin mounted in the housing on the opposite side of said powder charge receiving member from said barrel and being in alignment with the bore when the powder charge receiving member is in the firing position.

17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52} U.S. CI 227/i0 I5 I] Int. Cl Bc 1/14 Field oi Search 227/8, 10

I56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,716,8l3 9/1955 Smyres 227/l0 X zaq PATENTEIJNUV 16 I97! 3,620,433

INVENTOR r /7 PETER A. LAWTON BY yswf/fiw ATTORNEY FASTENER DRIVING TOOL This invention relates to an improved tool for driving studs, nails or other fasteners into walls or other surfaces by means of a cartridge or explosive charge, and it is particularly concerned with a tool of the type wherein the driving force of the exploded cartridge or charge is transmitted to the stud or fastener through the intermediary of a captive pistonlike member. Such type of tool is hereinafter referred to as the type mentioned.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved loading means for the cartridge or explosive charge used. Other objects are to provide improved means for effecting firing of the cartridge or explosive charge and improved safety means to prevent premature or accidental firing of the tool.

The above primary object is achieved, according to the invention, by providing a fastener driving tool of the type mentioned characterized by a body member having a transverse cylindrical opening, a cylindrical member rotatable in said opening and a diametrical bore in said cylindrical member receiving the cartridge or explosive charge, the cylindrical member being rotatable to two positions, in one position the diametrical bore registering with the loading aperture in the body member for the insertion into said bore of the cartridge or explosive charge and, in other position, the diametrical bore registering with a firing pin by means of which the cartridge or charge is exploded.

The invention is more fully described and ascertained aided by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment. In these views:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tool.

FIG. 2 is a part section taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

As shown in these views, the tool comprises a body member 1 having a bore in which the upper end 3 of the captive pistonlike member 4 is slidable. The lower driving end 5 of the pistonlike member is slidable in a barrel 6 in which the stud or other fastener to be driven is appropriately supported.

Above the upper end 3 of the pistonlike member 4 the body member is provided with a transverse cylindrical opening 7 in which is rotatably fitted a cylindrical member 8. Said member has a suitable shaped diametrical bore 9 which receives the cartridge or explosive charge 10 and such member is rotatable to two positions. In one position, which is the loading and spent cartridge ejection position, the diametrical bore 9 registers with a loading aperture 11 in the side of the body member through which the cartridge or explosive charge is inserted into the diametrical bore and also with a diametrically opposite opening 12 through which a rod or tool may be inserted for the purpose of ejecting the spent cartridge. In the other position, the diametrical bore 9 holding the cartridge or charge registers at its lower end with a port 13 open to the upper end of the pistonlike member 4 and at its upper end with a firing pin 14.

Any suitable means, such as a pin 15 on the body member engaging an arcuate slot 16 in the rotatable cylindrical member 8, may be provided to accurately limit the rotation of the cylindrical member 8 to the aforesaid two positions and said rotatable cylindrical member 8 also has suitable means for rotating it. Said means may conveniently comprise a handle 17 attached to one end of the cylindrical member and having a projecting finger operating end 18. The rotatable cylindrical member 8 may also have suitable gas seal which may consist of circular plugs 19 screwed or otherwise fitted into the opposite ends of the cylindrical opening 17 in which the rotatable cylindrical member 8 is fitted and rotates. The handle 17 for rotating the cylindrical member extends through a hole 20 in one of said gas sealing plugs 19.

The firing pin 14 is carried by the body member 1 im mediately above the rotatable cylindrical member 8 and is spring-pressed so that it returns to retracted position after each firing.

The firing pin is operated by means of a hammer or other blow applied to the top of a cap member 21 extends over the top of the body member 1 and has a downwardly extending cylindrical skirt 22 enclosing the body member. Said cap member may have a solid or thickened top portion 23 to which the hammer or other blow is imparted. The cap member 21 is maintained in position clear of the firing pin 14 by depressible spring means such as spring-pressed pins 24 supported in the upper end of the body member and engaging the underside of the thickened top portion 23 of the cap member.

Safety means are provided in association with the cap member 21 and the firing pin 14 to prevent any possibility of premature or accidental firing such as by the tool being accidentally dropped or struck while in a loading condition.

Such means may consist of a lever 25 pivoted by a pin 26 to the upper end of the body member and adapted to occupy an inoperative position clear of the firing pin or be interposed between the cap member 21 and the firing pin. The lever can be manually moved to operative position over the firing pin. in such position, the blow applied to the cap member 21 is transmitted through the lever to the firing pin which is thus actuated to fire the cartridge or explosive charge.

Preferably, the lever 25 is spring-pressed to the position clear of the firing pin. The construction may be such that the lever 25 is pivoted in a recess 27 in the upper end of the body member I and is acted on by a coiled spring 28 seated at one end in a recess 29 in the body member and hearing at its other end against the side edge of lever, see FIG. 3. The lever may also have a gap 30 in its side edge by which the lever clears the firing pin in its inoperative position.

The lever 25 is moved to its operative position preferably by making the cap member 21 rotatable and providing a pin 31 on the underside of the top of the cap member to engage behind a lug 32 on the outer end of the lever. Thus, when the cap member is manually rotated, the pin 31 moves the lever 25 to position over the firing pin so that the cartridge or charge can be fired by the hammer or other blow applied to the top of the cap member. The rotation of the cap member may be readily performed by the hand while the tool is being held in correct position against the workpiece.

The coiled spring 28 acting on the lever 25 may perform the additional function of also returning the cap member 21 to its initial position. The extent of movement of the lever may be limited by the sidewalls 33 of the recess 27 in which the lever is pivoted, said walls 33 acting as abutments or stops against which the lever engages in each of its two positions. As the extent of movement of the lever is so limited, the extent of rotation of the cap member is also likewise limited. The operation of the improved tool will be apparent from the above description. The tool is loaded by rotating the cylindrical member 8 by means of the handle 17 to bring its diametricaly bore 9 into register with the loading aperture 11 in the side of the body member, enabling the cartridge or explosive charge to be inserted into the diametrical bore. The cylindrical member 8 is then rotated to bring the cartridge or explosive charge into register with the firing pin 14. When the tool is then correctly located for firing, the safety means are actuated by rotation of the cap member 21, as above described, and the tool fired by means of a hammer or other blow applied to the top of the cap member. The cylindrical member 8 is then again rotated to bring its cylindrical bore 9 into register with the loading aperture 11 and the spent cartridge ejected by means of a rod or tool inserted through the opposite opening 12 in the body member and a further cartridge or explosive charge loaded into the tool.

The improved too as described will be found very effective in use, being easy to load and effectively protected against premature or accidental firing should the tool be dropped or accidentally struck while loaded.

Modifications and refinements may be made within the ambit of the invention. For example, the loading aperture 11 in the side of the body member may be tapered or enlarged at its outer end to provide a convenient lead-in for the cartridge or explosive charge and facilitate loading. The cylindrical skirt 22 of the cap member would, of course, have appropriate openings or slots to provide clearance for the loading aperture 11, the opening 12 for use in ejecting the spent cartridge and the handle 17 for rotating the cylindrical member. The lever 25 of the safety means may also be spring-pressed in its mounting on its pivot pin 26 so that said lever is depressible in relation to the pivot pin to provide for the downward movement of the cap member 21 when it is struck by the hammer or the like to fire the tool.

I claim:

1. A powder-actuated fastening tool comprising a housing, a loading port in said housing, a barrel member attached to said housing and extending therefrom, a piston member mounted for reciprocal movement in said barrel member, said housing having a cylindrical bore therein, said bore having an axis perpendicular to the axis of said barrel member, a cylindrical powder charge receiving member rotatably mounted in said bore with its axis of rotation perpendicular to said axis of said barrel and having a powder charge receiving bore extending therethrough having its axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the powder charge receiving member, said housing being movable between a loading position wherein said powder charge receiving bore is in communication with said loading port and a firing position wherein said powder charge receiving bore is in communication with said barrel, and firing pin means mounted in said housing and moveable between a firing and fired position along an axis parallel to the axis of said barrel.

2. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including a second port in said housing diametrically spaced across said powder charge receiving member from said loading port and being in alignment with said powder charge receiving bore when said powder charge receiving member is in the loading position.

3. The fastening tool of claim I further including a handle member attached to one end of said powder charge receiving member.

4. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including means associated with said powder charge receiving member for sealing gas.

5. The fastening tool of claim 4 wherein said bore in said housing extends therethrough, and said means for sealing gases includes circular plugs fitted into opposite ends of the bore in which said powder charge receiving member rotates.

6. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including means for limiting the rotation of the cylindrical member to the two positions.

7. The fastening tool of claim 6 wherein the limiting means comprises a pin in the housing and an arcuate slot in the cylindrical member, said pin extending into said lot.

8. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including a cap on the end of said housing means mounting said firing pin means for the actuation thereof by a blow on said cap.

9. The fastening tool of claim 8 wherein said cap has a thickened top portion to which the blow is applied.

10. The fastening tool of claim 8 further including depressible spring means for maintaining said cap clear of said firing pin means. i

11. The fastening tool of claim 8 further including safety means in association with the cap and the firing pin means to prevent premature or accidental firing.

12. The fastening tool of claim 11 wherein said safety means comprises a lever pivoted to the housing and adapted to occupy an inoperative position clear of the firing pin means or be interposed between the cap and the firing pin so that the blow applied to the cap is transmitted through the lever to the firing pm means.

13. The fastening tool of claim 12 wherein the lever is spring-biased to the inoperative position clear of the firing pin means.

14. The fastening tool of claim 12 wherein the lever is pivoted in a recess in the housing, and further including a coiled spring for moving the lever to the ino rative osition, said lever having a gap in its side edge by w lch it c ears the firing pin means when the lever is in its inoperative position.

15. The fastening tool of claim 14 further including means mounting said cap for rotation with respect to the housing and pin means on said cap for engaging said lever so that, when the cap is rotated, the pin moves the lever to the interposed position between the cap and the firing pin means.

16. The fastening tool of claim 15 wherein said coiled spring acting on the lever also performs the function of returning the rotatable cap to its initial position.

17. The fastening tool of claim 14 wherein the extent of movement of the lever is limited by sidewalls of the recess in which the lever is pivoted, said side walls acting as abutments or stops against which the lever engages in each of its two positions.

*savxs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. at November l6L 1971 ln ent fl Peter A. Lawton It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Column I, line 36, please insert "is" between --As shown";

In Column I line 66, please insert "means" between --seal which--;

In Column II, line 2 please insert "which" between --21 extends- In Column II, line 68, please delete the word "too" and insert --tool-;

In Column IV, line 6, please delete the word "lot" and insert --slot--;

In Column IV, line 8 please insert "and" between -housing means-- Signed and sealed this 13th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PC4050 USCOMM-DC 60376-PB9 U 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTNG OFFICE 19.9 D'-356'JJI 

1. A powder-actuated fastening tool comprising a housing, a loading port in said housing, a barrel member attached to said housing and extending therefrom, a piston member mounted for reciprocal movement in said barrel member, said housing having a cylindrical bore therein, said bore having an axis perpendicular to the axis of said barrel member, a cylindrical powder charge receiving member rotatably mounted in said bore with its axis of rotation perpendicular to said axis of said barrel and having a powder charge receiving bore extending therethrough having its axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the powder charge receiving member, said housing being movable between a loading position wherein said powder charge receiving bore is in communication with said loading port and a firing position wherein said powder charge receiving bore is in communication with said barrel, and firing pin means mounted in said housing and moveable between a firing and fired position along an axis parallel to the axis of said barrel.
 2. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including a second port in said housing diametrically spaced across said powder charge receiving member from said loading port and being in alignment with said powder charge receiving bore when said powder charge receiving member is in the loading position.
 3. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including a handle member attached to one end of said powder charge receiving member.
 4. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including means associated with said powder charge receiving member for sealing gas.
 5. The fastening tool of claim 4 wherein said bore in said housing extends therethrough, and said means for sealing gases includes circular plugs fitted into opposite ends of the bore in which said powder charge receiving member rotates.
 6. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including means for limiting the rotation of the cylindrical member to the two positions.
 7. The fastening tool of claim 6 wherein the limiting means comprises a pin in the housing and an arcuate slot in the cylindrical member, said pin extending into said lot.
 8. The fastening tool of claim 1 further including a cap on the end of said housing and means mounting said firing pin means for the actuation thereof by a blow on said cap.
 9. The fastening tool of claim 8 wherein said cap has a thickened top portion to which the blow is applied.
 10. The fastening tool of claim 8 further including depressible spring means for maintaining said cap clear of said firing pin means.
 11. The fastening tool of claim 8 further including safety means in association with the cap and the firing pin means to prevent premature or accidental firing.
 12. The fastening tool of claim 11 wherein said safety means comprises a lever pivoted to the housing and adapted to occupy an inoperative position clear of the firing pin means or be interposed between the cap and the firing pin so that the blow applied to the cap is transmitted through the lever to the firing pin means.
 13. The fastening tool of claim 12 wherein the lever is spring-biased to the inoperative position clear of the firing pin means.
 14. The fastening tool of claim 12 wherein the lever is pivoted in a recess in the housing, and further including a coiled spring for moving the lever to the inoperative position, said lever having a gap in its side edge by which it clears the firing pin means when the lever is in its inoperative position.
 15. The fastening tool of claim 14 further including means mounting said cap for rotation with respect to the housing and pin means on said cap for engaging said lever so that, when the cap is rotated, the pin moves the lever to the interposed position between the cap and the firing pin means.
 16. The fastening tool of claim 15 wherein said coiled spring acting on the lever also performs the function of returning the rotatable cap to its initial position.
 17. The fastening tool of claim 14 wherein the extent of movement of the lever is limited by sidewalls of the recess in which the lever is pivoted, said side walls acting as abutments or stops against which the lever engages in each of its two positions. 